The firefighters union in New Orleans is blasting City Hall, accusing the administration of putting firefighters in an unnecessary and risky position in light of the Baton Rouge police attack.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:53 PM CDT Jul 21, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT INSTALLING SMOKE DETECTORS.BUT IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT,THE UNION SAYS THAT COULD BE ARECIPE FOR DISASTER.IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, FIRECHIEF TIM MCCONNEL SAYS HISFIREFIGHTERS HAVE CHECKED, FIXEDAND INSTALLED MORE THAN 10,000OF THESE IN NEW ORLEANS HOMEEACH SATURDAY, FIREFIGHTERS INNEW ORLEANS GO CHECK RANDOMHOMES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREFOLLOWING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.MCCONNELL SAYS FIRE ARE DOWN INTHE CITY IN 2016.>> WE KNOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.TRAVERS: BUT THE FIREFIGHTERSUNION SAYS IN LIGHT OF RECENTPOLICE SHOOTINGS IN BATON ROUGEAND DALLAS, THE PRACTICE IS NOTDANGEROUS.>> IT CONTINUES ON AND IT ISFOOLISH AND RIDICULOUS.IT'S DANGEROUS AND UNNECESSARY.TRAVERS: SO NICK FELTON WANTS ITSTOPS, ALBEIT TEMPORARILY.>> I THINK IT IS REALLYIMPORTANT THAT FIRE ALARMS ANDFIRE DETECTORS ARE THERE, BUT WESURELY WOULD NOT BE SENDINGPOLICE OFFICERS OUT RANDOMLYKNOCKING ON DOORS, TO MAKE SUREEVERYBODY HAD A BURGLAR ALARM.TRAVERS: BUT THE CHIEF AND CITYHALL, SAY NOTHING WILL CHANGE,AS THERE IS NO KNOWN THREAT TOFIREFIGHTERS.>> WHAT I KNOW I FEELRESPONSIBLE FOR, WHAT I KNOWWOULD BE BROUGHT ON MY HANDS, ISIF SOMEONE DIES FROM A FIREBECAUSE I REFUSED TO PUT A SMOKEALARM THERE.IT WOULD BE PERFECT TO STOP THATCAMPAIGN WITHOUT ANY CREDIBLETHREAT -- IT WOULD BE HORRIFICTO STOP THAT CAMPAIGN WITHOUTANY CREDIBLE THREAT.TRAVERS: THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION-- FIREFIGHTERS ARE NO LONGERRESPONDING TO RANDOM CHECKS ATHOMES IN JEFFERSON PARISHWITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF JPSO.THEY JUST WANT THIS POLICY ANDPRACTICE STOPPED TEMPORARILY.